Actually, there is simply a computer inside the housing. Embedded computers with Ethernet and WiFi are easy to find. So far, no camera can directly drive an external hard disk (unless its there, hidden) but Samsung has announced a compact camera with Android, so tomorrow, it may be different.
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Pat FarrellSep 17 '12 at 2:33

@PatFarrell FYI: Nikon has a camera with Android too, the Coolpix S800c with WiFi.
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ItaiSep 17 '12 at 2:40